The Yomiuri Shimbun (Apr. 6, 2009)
UNSC must be tough with North Korea
北ミサイル発射 安保理は制裁決議の再確認を（4月6日付・読売社説）
North Korea's launch of a ballistic missile on Sunday was a reckless and dangerous provocation that stokes tension in the international community and directly threatens its peace and stability.
北朝鮮による弾道ミサイル発射は、国際社会の緊張を高め、平和と安定を損なう無謀で危険な挑発行為だ。
Japan was quite justified, along with the United States and South Korea, to have unreservedly condemned North Korea over the launch and immediately called on the U.N. Security Council to convene an emergency meeting.
日本が米国、韓国とともに、北朝鮮を厳しく非難し、直ちに国連安全保障理事会の緊急会合の招集を求めたのは、当然の措置である。
The request for the meeting was made after North Korea launched a three-stage, long-range ballistic missile, which the reclusive state claimed was a "rocket carrying a satellite." The Japanese government itself confirmed the missile had been launched.
北朝鮮が５日、「人工衛星運搬ロケット」と称する３段式の長距離弾道ミサイルを発射した。日本政府も、発射を確認した。
◆明白な決議違反だ◆
Japan, the United States and South Korea were united in pressing North Korea to abandon the plan, repeatedly warning the country that even a launch of a satellite would be a breach of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1718, which demanded North Korea suspend all activities related to its ballistic missile program.
日米韓の３か国は、衛星打ち上げであっても、「弾道ミサイル計画に関連するすべての活動停止」を求めた安保理決議１７１８に違反する、と北朝鮮に再三警告し、中止を迫ってきた。
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Breach of U.N. resolution
However, North Korea thumbed its nose at the warnings and went ahead with the launch.
それを無視してのミサイル発射強行である。
North Korea is believed to have launched a modified version of the Taepodong-2 long-range ballistic missile. Three years ago, that country's test of such a missile ended in failure.
ミサイルは「テポドン２」の改良型と見られる。３年前、テポドン２の発射は失敗に終わった。
This time, however, North Korea declared its launch a success. This display was aimed at showing its improved missile technology.
今回、北朝鮮は発射に「成功した」と発表し、ミサイル技術の向上を誇示した形だ。
Domestically, North Korea's regime has been shaken over concerns regarding the health of its leader, Kim Jong Il, and its collapsing economy. Sunday's launch, therefore, appears to have been aimed at restoring the regime's stability.
国内的には、金正日総書記の健康不安や経済破綻(はたん)で動揺する体制の立て直しに、これを利用する狙いがあるのだろう。
The principles employed in rockets and missiles are the same. Attaching a nuclear warhead to a rocket instead of a satellite is enough to turn the projectile into a nuclear missile.
ロケットもミサイルも原理は同じだ。衛星の代わりに核弾頭を搭載すれば核ミサイルになる。
Japan is within range of Rodong missiles, which North Korea has deployed ready for an attack. If North Korea succeeds in downsizing a nuclear weapon and possesses a nuclear warhead, Japan will instantly come under direct threat from a nuclear missile. Consequently, the government must use every option at its disposal to press North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons.
日本の場合、すでに北朝鮮が実戦配備しているノドン・ミサイルの射程にある。北朝鮮が核兵器の小型化に成功して核弾頭を手にすれば、たちまち核ミサイルの脅威にさらされる。北朝鮮に核放棄を迫ることは喫緊の課題だ。
North Korea insists that every country has the right to use space for peaceful purposes. However, that country's concurrent development of nuclear technology and missiles are all essential parts needed to complete a nuclear missile.
北朝鮮は「どの国にも平和的な宇宙利用の権利がある」と主張している。しかし、核とミサイルの開発を並行して続けている姿は、核ミサイルの完成に向けた動きそのものではないか。
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UNSC should stand united
The Security Council is divided over how to respond to North Korea's missile launch. Among permanent members with veto-wielding power, Britain and France have taken steps in line with Japan and the United States, agreeing the launch was a violation of the Security Council resolution. However, China and Russia disagree.
安保理での対応は割れている。拒否権を持つ常任理事国は、英国とフランスが「決議違反」で日米と歩調を合わせたが、中国とロシアは同調していない。
Before the latest launch, North Korea fulfilled the international obligations necessary for conducting a satellite launch, including giving advance notice of the launch, joining the U.N. Outer Space Treaty and reporting the scheduled launch to the International Civil Aviation Organization.
北朝鮮は今回、発射の予告、宇宙条約への加盟、国際民間航空機関（ＩＣＡＯ）への通報など、衛星打ち上げに必要な国際的な義務を一応果たした。
Resolution 1718 does not explicitly ban North Korea from launching a satellite. This was behind the refusal of China and Russia to agree that the launch breached the resolution.
決議１７１８には、「衛星打ち上げ」を明確に禁ずる表現がない。中露はそれを根拠に、「決議違反」の主張に与(くみ)していない。
However, any dillydallying by Security Council members over how to interpret the resolution, which would expose a lack of unity, will only benefit North Korea.
だが、解釈などをめぐる議論に終始して、安保理の足並みの乱れを露呈すれば、北朝鮮を利するだけである。
◆核放棄を強く迫れ◆
Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone agreed during phone conversations with his U.S. and South Korean counterparts that the launch must not be tolerated because it breached the U.N. resolution. They also were on the same page over the necessity of sending a strong message to North Korea at the Security Council.
日米、日韓外相の電話会談では、今回の発射は決議違反で容認できないとして、安保理で北朝鮮に強いメッセージを出す必要があるとの認識で一致した。
We think the Security Council should reaffirm the strict interpretation of Resolution 1718, which demanded North Korea abandon all nuclear weapons and suspend all activities related to its ballistic missile program.
安保理は、核放棄やミサイル開発の中止を求め北朝鮮に制裁を科した決議１７１８の厳格な履行を再確認すべきである。
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Sanctions should be tightened
Meanwhile, the Japanese government is set to extend its own economic sanctions against North Korea, which have been renewed every six months, by one year. The government is considering imposing additional sanctions, such as a total ban on exports to that country. Japan faces the greatest risk from North Korea's missile launch. Given this, we think it is reasonable to strengthen sanctions imposed on that country.
一方、日本政府は、半年ごとだった独自制裁の期間を１年間に延長して更新する方針だ。輸出の全面禁止など追加措置も検討している。ミサイルの最大の脅威を受けるのは日本であり、制裁を強化するのは当然だ。
The latest launch also left uncertain the fate of six-party talks aimed at dismantling North Korea's nuclear program. The talks have been stalled since North Korea disagreed with procedures aimed at verifying its declaration of its nuclear program.
今回の発射で、北朝鮮に核廃棄を迫る６か国協議の行方も不透明になった。６か国協議は、提出した核計画の検証手続きで北朝鮮が合意せず、停滞している。
North Korea has threatened to quit further six-party talks if the missile launch is taken up at the Security Council. If that country intends to leave the six-party framework, the Security Council should pressure North Korea by adopting a new resolution to force it back to the negotiating table.
北朝鮮は、ミサイル発射を「安保理が取り上げるなら、６か国協議はなくなる」などと牽制(けんせい)してきた。協議から離脱するというのであれば、安保理は新たな決議で北朝鮮に圧力をかけ、復帰させなければならない。
◆誤報を今後の教訓に◆
North Korea has declared it will continue launching "satellites."
北朝鮮は今後も「衛星打ち上げ」を続けるとしている。
Japan's missile defense system must be galvanized to prepare for and respond to North Korea's missile threat. It will be crucial to boost the accuracy of missile interceptions by stepping up training exercises and improving the system's efficiency.
北朝鮮のミサイルの脅威に備えるには、ミサイル防衛（ＭＤ）システムの一層の充実が欠かせない。さまざまな訓練を重ねて迎撃の精度を高め、システムの実効性を向上させることが重要だ。
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Learn lessons from false alarms
Ahead of the latest launch, the Maritime Self-Defense Force's Aegis-equipped destroyers and Air Self-Defense Force surface-to-air missile units were deployed to prepare for any emergencies. Fortunately, they were not called on to intercept the launched missile.
今回、万一に備えて展開した海上自衛隊のイージス艦や航空自衛隊の地対空誘導弾部隊が、迎撃する局面はなくて済んだ。
The government used for the first time the Em-Net emergency network that links the Cabinet Secretariat with local governments via a special line to swiftly relay information on the missile launch. Regrettably, the government issued two false missile alarms Saturday.
政府は、迅速な発射情報の広報のため、内閣官房と自治体を専用回線で結ぶ通報システム「エムネット」を初めて運用した。
残念だったのは、４日に２回も「発射」を誤報したことだ。
The false alarms were issued after the ASDF radar system falsely detected "traces of a flying object" and erroneous information was relayed within the Defense Ministry. These mistakes raise serious questions about the government's crisis-management capability.
空自のレーダーの誤探知や、防衛省内の情報伝達の人為ミスなどが原因だ。政府の危機管理能力に疑問符がつきかねない。
North Korean missiles can reach Japanese territory in 10 minutes. To ensure the public's safety and relieve their anxiety as much as possible, the government must pursue both promptness and accuracy in the provision of emergency information.
北朝鮮のミサイルは１０分以内に日本に到達する。国民の安全を最大限確保し、不安を軽減するためには、情報提供において「迅速さ」と「正確さ」の両方を追求することが求められる。
The government should learn from the mistakes made Saturday by double-checking information that will be conveyed to the public, and improving how this information is relayed.
政府は、４日の失敗を教訓として、情報内容の二重チェックや国民への伝達方法の改善について、たゆまぬ努力をすべきだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 6, 2009)
（2009年4月6日01時49分 読売新聞）
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